Stringed musical instrument

ABSTRACT

A heart shaped stringed musical instrument comprises one hollow sound box having two sound boards with one heart shaped sound hole in the center of the top sound board with a fixed sidewall connecting the top and bottom sound boards, with sidewall also furnishing the drilled holes to house the dual set of rotatable tuning pegs, a flat narrow V shaped extension bridge with a dual set of string holes on the upper edge of both sides, said bridge mounted to the pointed edge and lower sides of the sound board, a wing shaped dual scale bar mounted on the upper surface of sound board to support a dual set of musical strings stretching parallel over the sound board whereby a complete scale of individual musical tones may be produced from either side of the sound board without the use of frets with strings being divided in the center and arranged in a reversable sequence so that instrument may be played with equal dexterity in reversable position, a V shaped bridge on top of the lower boundary to give elevation and support to the lower ends of the strings, and a desirable number of tension pegs situated between the string holes on both of the lower sides of V shaped bridge.

United States Patent 1 Ledford [54] STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT [76] lnventor: Adele Korry Ledford, 3211 Castlewood, Houston, Tex. 77025 [22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 I [21] Appl. No.: 221,892

I 52 us. Cl. ..84/285, 84/291 [51] Int. Cl. ..Gl0d 1/12 [58] Field of Search ,;.....84/l73, 290, 285, 84/264, 265, 290

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 125,525 11/1901 Germany ..84/285 19,233 1l/1897 Great Britain ..84/263 2,065 ll/1908 Great Britain ..84/173 Primary Examiner- Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales 51 June 5, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT A heart shaped stringed musical instrument comprises one hollow sound box having two sound boards with one heart shaped sound hole in the center of the top sound board with a fixed sidewall connecting the top and bottom sound boards, with sidewall also furnishing the drilled holes to house the dual set of rotatable tuning pegs, a flat narrow V shaped extension bridge with a dual set of string holes on the upper edge of both sides, said bridge mounted to the pointed edge and lower sides of the sound board, 'a wing shaped dual scale bar mounted on the upper surface of sound board to support a dual set of musical strings stretching parallel over the sound board whereby a complete scale of individual musical tones may be produced from either side of the sound board without the use of frets with strings being divided in the center and arranged in a reversable sequence so that instrument may be played with equal dexterity in reversable 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a heart shaped stringed musical instrument in the nature of a dual zither having the novel and modified construction of a reversable musical sound board furnishing two complete sets of individual musical strings arranged in a reversable sequence or plurality of strings which carry a full scale of musical notes to be played either backward and, or forward while being handled from either I side of the sound board and being designed in the shape of a heart to give the necessaryfullness and equal balance to the gradually alterated position of the strings and to give the proper variety of tone colors to be produced from the sound box, as well as the convenience of size and pleasing in appearance.

There will now be described for convenience a heart shaped dual zither as an example, though this does not limit the basic scope of the present invention. A dual or reversable zither in common use generally having the construction illustrated FIG. 1. Namely, the instrument is comprised of a heart shaped sound board having a centered heart shaped sound hole 11 therein, a backwall 9 of equal dimension of sound board 10 and being disposed substantially parallel therewith at a predetermined space, a sidewall 12 connecting the top sound board 10 and the backwall 9 thereby constituting a well balanced two sided hollow sound box of equal dimension. There is also provided a narrow V shape extension bridge 13 permanently fixed at the pointed end of the sound box extending lengthwise along both sides of the lower sidewall 12, said bridge 13 having a predetermined number of string holes 20 on the upper extended edge, the number of string holes 20 depending on the preferred number of strings 17 to be used on the sound board 10. There is also provided a predetermined number of rotatably tuning pegs 15 on both sides of the upper curved section of the sound board 10, with each peg 15 fitting securely into the provided housing of the thick foundation of the sidewall 12, said pegs 15 serving the purpose of holding and tuning the musical strings 17, the number'of tuning pegs 15 depending on the number of desired strings 17, pegs 15 also being in exact accordance with the predetermined space of the elevated string holes in the extended portion of the bridge 13 so that strings 17 may be securely attached to tuning pegs 15 at the head of the sound board 10 and resting in grooves on the wing shaped scalebar 18 and stretching parallel at a raised level over the sound board 10 resting on the inner V shaped bridge 19 and through the string holes 20 and looped over the provided tension pegs 21 on both of the outer sides of bridge 13. The

present number of strings 17 being 22 in all and 1 l on both sides of the sound board 10 (more strings may be used but no less than 1 I on both sides). The strings l7 being divided in the center of the sound board 10 directly over the sound hole 11- with each string 17 having an individual note without the use of frets for example, starting from left to right of the sound board 10 and on the lettered music scale bar 18 are the predetermined notes in the following position: F E D C B A G FEDCCDEFGABCDEFsothatthepresent invention may be played in a reversable position while getting the same results from either side of the sound board 10. the tone color of each note is predetermined by the guage or diameter and quality of material of strings 17 to be used as well as the proper adjustment of the tuning pegs 15, also the size, shape and fullness of the sound board will affect the quality and volumn of the variable tones colors. Another important feature is the properelevation and equally divided space in coordination with opposit ends of the strings 17. The strings 17 may be plucked with an ordinary music pick causing a resonant of tones to be intered into and transmitted from the hollowed sound box 14. On the upper surface of the sound board 10 and in front of the pegs 15is provided a fixed wing shaped dual scale bar 18 having a predetermined number of narrow grooves to keep the upper strings 17 in placesaid scale bar 18 further provides the proper elevation to the strings 17 as well as furnish the letter of note for each individual string as previously described.

FIG. 2 represents the simplicity and durability of the construction of present invention with a view of the thick solid foundation of the sidewall 12 which not only connects the top sound board 10 and the backwall 9 but also provides the predetermined number of deeply drilled holes which house a dual set of tuning pegs l5 and further giving a view of the position of the dual set of strings 17 being devided directly over the heart shaped sound hole 11 with each set of strings spaced in an exact degree apart and having the same amount of alteration and elevation on both sides of the sound board 10. There is further a view of a wing shape dual scale bar 18 fixed crosswise on the upper surface of the sound board 10 also showing the duralbe thickness of the. foundation of the inner portion of the outlined sidewall 12, the wing shaped scale bar having narrow grooves (grooves not seen) under the strings 17 to keep strings in place, said scale bar 18 also furnishing the predetermined elevation of the strings 17. The drawing of FIG. 2 further shows a fixed bridge 19 on both sides of the lower boundary of the sound board 10 giving elevated support to the lower end of strings l7, and a further view of a fixed V shaped side bridge 13 with a predetermined number of string holes which are more clearly defined in FIG. 3 as well as the predetermined number of tension pegs 21 on both sides of the lower sound box which is also more clearly defined in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a partial section of the embodiment of FIG. 2 from line 3 and 3 across high portion giving a view of peg 1 5 securely inserted in its housing 16 and a further view a string 17 firmly attached to peg 15 and resting on the permanently mounted scale bar 18 and stretching parallel over the sound board 10 and through the string hole 20 in the extended portion of the side bridge 13, also showing the scale bar 18 to be the same height as that of the lower bridge 19 which is permanently mounted on top of the pointed boundary of sound board l0. 14 represents the hollow chamber inside of the sound box between the top board 10' and the backwall 9. There is also a cross section view of tension peg 21 inserted through the side bridge 13 and screwed deep into the sidewall of the sound box, the main purpose'of tension pegs 21 is to allow strings 17 to loop over said tension peg 21 and back through another hole 20 and back to anouther tuning peg 15 at the opposit end, thus allowing one string 17 to furnish two notes as well as furnishing added tension to each string,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished in view of the established circomspects herein mentioned and is primarily intended to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive stringed musical instrument of dual nature whereby the design and placement of the dual set of strings stretched over a full bodied heart shaped sound board which gives the present invention the overall dimentions deemed neccessary for the intended number and quality of individual color tones. The object is to furnish handicapped people with only one hand the opportunity to play a musical instrument with either right or left hand and getting the same results from either side of a reversable sound board. Another important reason for the present invention is to furnish children of elementary stages with a durable self taught musical instrument with letters of each note on top of the scale bar so that a child can learn the basic notes of a musical instrument that can be held with either hand and played either backward or forward with right or left hand. It is further noted that the present invention may also furnish older retired people with a easy uncomplicated musical instrument which can provide them with many pleasant hours during their latter years of life. The inventor also intends to supply suitable lined sheet music made especially for said instrument with notes indicating which string to pluck in harmony with song.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heart shaped stringed musical instrument in the nature of a dual zither.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 showing the basic characteristics of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view partly in section, taken on lines 3 3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There will now be described by reference to the appended drawings of a heart shpaed stringed musical instrument according to the embodiments of present invention. FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 jointly represent the foundation of a dual zither according to one embodiment of the invention. The instrument comprises two sound boards 9 and 10 having one heart shaped sound hole 11 centered in the top sound board 10, the two sound boards 9 and 10 being of equal size, shape and thickness are disposed substantially parallel to each other at a predetermined space with a united sidewall 12 connecting the two sound boards 9 and 10 thus constituting a hollow sound chamber 14 in an overall sound box. The centered sound hole 11 being substantially large enoughto support the volumn and quality of musical tones desired by the dual set of strings 17 which are arranged in reversable sequence so that the instrument may be played with equal dexterity in reversable position. The sidewall 12 being of substantial thickness to supply a predetermined number of drilled holes 16 along both curves at the upper boundary of sound board 10, said holes 16 being prearranged to house the predetermined number of rotatably fitted tunning pegs 15, present number of pegs being ll on both sides of dual sound board 10 (but can be more pegs depending on the number of strings being used). The V shape lower bridge 13 being permanently fixed on the pointed end both sides of sidewall 12, said bridge 13 having an extened portion providing a predetermined number of string holes 20 in the upper edge of said bridge which elevates th string holes 20 above the surface of the sound board 10. At the upper curved surface of the sound board 10 are the beforementioned predetermined number of rotatably tuning pegs 15 present number being II on both sides of the upper surface of sound board 10 (but can be more pegs depending on the desired number of strings 17. The rotatably pegs l5 fitting into the beforementioned drilled holes 16 which are the provided housing for the pegs 15. Stretching parallel with the length of the sound board 10 is a dual set of musical strings 17 being devided in the center of sound board 10 and directly over the heart shaped sound hole 11, the present number of strings being II on both sides of the sound board 10 (but can be more strings 17 if so desired but no less than one and a half octaves on either side of sound board 10) said strings 17 being elevated at a predetermined angle between the tuning pegs l5 and the string holes 20 in the elevated portion of the extended edge of the side bridge 13. At the upper surface of the sound board 10 and in front of the pegs 15 is furnished with a wing shaped dual scale bar 18 which is permanently mounted crosswise on the said sound board 10, said scale bar 18 having predetermined spaced grooves to keep the strings 17 in their designated position (grooves not seen because they are under the strings) also letters of each note may be placed on top of scale bar 18 to designate the correct note of each string 17 to be played according to prescribed music sheets. There is further an optional V shaped inner bridge 19 on the upper surface along the lower boundary of the sound board 10, said bridge 19 giving added support to the lower portion of the strings 17. The instrument is further supplied with a desired number of tension pegs 21 on both of the lower sided of the outer bridge 13, said tension pegs 21 placed under and between the strings 17 to give added tension to said strings, said tension pegs 21 are inserted through the side bridge 13 and screwed deeply into the sidewall 12 as seen in the view of FIG. 3. The overall design is intended for the strings 17 to be firmly attached to the tuning pegs 15 which are inserted into their housings 16, said strings 17 then resting on top and in the divided grooves in the musical scale bar 18 and then stretching parallel over the sound board 10, and over the inner V shaped bridge 19 and through the string holes 20 which are provided in the extended portion of the outer bridge 13 on the lower pointed end of the sidewall 12, said strings 17 then looping over the tension pegs 21 as shown in FIG. 3,

said string may go back through the string hole 20 and back to another tuning peg 15. The object of the pres ent invension is to furnish left handed people with a musical instrument that can be played just as well from right to left, as it may be played from left to right, or said instrument may be played from a reversable position while being held in either hand.

What is claimed is:

1. A stringed musical instrument in the shape of a heart in the nature of a dual zither comprised of two heart shaped sound boards with a heart shaped sound hole centered in the top sound board, a thick side wall having a predetermined number of drilled holes to house the desired number of tuning pegs, said sidewall connecting the top and bottom sound boards being disposed at a predetermined space constituting a well balanced hollow heart shaped sound box of equal demina number of tension pegs on both of the lower sides to give added tension to the strings, the surface of the sound board having a dual or plural set of musical strings being devided in the center and arranged in a reversable sequence stretching parallel at a raised level over the sound board. 

1. A stringed musical instrument in the shape of a heart in the nature of a dual zither comprised of two heart shaped sound boards with a heart shaped sound hole centered in the top sound board, a thick side wall having a predetermined number of drilled holes to house the desired number of tuning pegs, said sidewall connecting the top and bottom sound boards being disposed at a predetermined space constituting a well balanced hollow heart shaped sound box of equal deminsion on both sides, the surface of the sound board having a dual set of rotatably tuning pegs on the upper curved boundary and a wing shaped dual musical scale bar in front of the tuning pegs and mounted crosswise over the upper surface of the sound board, a V shape fixed bridge on the lower boundary and an outer V shaped side bridge having a predetermined number of string holes in the upper extended portion thereof and a number of tension pegs on both of the lower sides to give added tension to the strings, the surface of tHe sound board having a dual or plural set of musical strings being devided in the center and arranged in a reversable sequence stretching parallel at a raised level over the sound board. 